Glasair Aviation LLC Sportsman accident near Pinedale, Wyoming, August 8, 2011
On August 8, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Glasair Aviation LLC Sportsman, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N117CE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pinedale, Wyoming (Pinedale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pinedale, Wyoming · Pinedale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasair Aviation LLC Sportsman GS-2, amateur-built
- Registration
- N117CE · no longer on the register · serial 7326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was demonstrating landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mowed grass field, which sloped from left to right. The main wheels touched the ground without incident but, as the tail dropped the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right brake and full right rudder in an attempt to control the airplane, yet it continued to swerve until it was 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel. The right main landing gear subsequently separated and the right wing and stabilizer contacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the fuselage, stabilizer, and right aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,214 hours in all; 920 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 2,194 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 169 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2011; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-360-M1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Glasair Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PNA Pinedale WY at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PNA Pinedale WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KPNA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.